The hapless master of “Delsrop” paced his dining-hall in a rare conflict of emotions. The wine gleamed on the table; but none was there to call a toast in it. His hospitality was abused; his company retired1; and he was audibly cursing that cantrip of Fortune that had endowed him with a wilderness2 and a party of lunatics and cut-throats to people it, and had made of it at the same time a perfect purgatory3 of misunderstanding.
“Now,” he groaned4 to himself, “if I am not in the mind to call in Jack5 Fern and his gang to resolve a problem that gets beyond me!”
All had disappeared from the room, and he was alone. He had himself, in a fury of passion, borne away Darda to the stables—whereto there was a covered passage leading from the north wing of the house—and had locked her in amongst the deer, as safe and appropriate to her animal outburst. Angela—more frightened than hurt by the little punctured6 wound on her fair white shoulder which the knife had made in its fall—had been supported to an upper room by her brother and Dunlone. Betty was fled, he knew not whither, and Luvaine gone to take his turn of guard in the chamber7 of the “Priest’s Hole,” which now, in the light of late discovery, was considered the nucleus8 of danger.
Dusk was creeping on when, in the midst of his irritable9 tramping, he turned to find that Dennis was come into the room.
“By all the devils of cross-purposes,” he said, stopping opposite the man, “I believe we are the only two in the house, Whimple, that understand one another. Tell me, then—what am I to do with the girl?”
“She must go, sir. Her malady10 increases, and—sir, let me speak plainly. It is aggravated11 by some wild passion that—that your neighbourhood provokes—some—oh! how can I face you and cry the mad presumption12?”
“Yes—she must go.” (He spoke13 gloomily and thoughtfully.) “If only this eternal business of the stone were done with, and I could enter into peaceful possession of my own again. And sometimes I think that that will never be; that I hold a position only—a test of manliness14 and endurance, and that ‘Delsrop’ is no more than a redoubt in the battle of life, to fight from the shelter of, and abandon when my next advance is called.”
“In truth, sir, I believe there is a melancholy15 curse upon the place.”
“We will hold it, nevertheless, Dennis; but, our duty done by it, my heart, I think, wouldn’t die to see it fall. ’Twould be a sombre rookery for a young mother to rear her brood in.”
He set to pacing the room once more, while the other hung his head in some sorrowful emotion.
“Whimple,” he said, as he walked—“you have associations here—sinister enough; but they are a bond of a kind. I have none, and yet your father’s shadow creeps in mine and influences it, I am afraid, to evil.”
“Oh, sir! don’t talk like that. I have so formed my faith on all of that in you which I lack—courage and——”
“Tut, fellow! D’you think I’m to be overcrowed by a ghost? The sick dog must have his moan, Dennis, and I’m scarce recovered yet of those rascals16. Look at my hands, you rabbit. Are these fingers or forked radishes to pull a trigger withal?”
“God restore you, master!”
“As He will—as He will.”
He was still tramping.
“But the stone,” he muttered—“the stone, the stone.”
Suddenly he paused before the servant, and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Carry it, sir?”
“I put it in a bag, sir.”
“What sort of bag, man; and what became of it?”
“Oh! how can I say?—Yes; I know. ’Twas a canvas thing of my sister’s; that I stole and brought home again; and she rated me that I had appropriated it, for ’twas the one in which she conveyed her treasures to the lodge—the very bag, indeed, she found there and used to stuff her relics19 into before she escaped last night.”
“Where is it?”
“Indeed, I have no notion, sir.”
“What was its colour?”
“It had stripes of pale red, I only remember.”
“Find it, if you can, and bring it to me.”
“Now, sir, now. You think the stone may have escaped into it? It hath been in their hands, sir, down there. It is not possible.”
“Go, at least, and look.”
He resumed his monotonous20 walk. A desperate impatience21 to somehow end all this overbearing insolence22 of circumstance raged in his veins23. But Fate must still be nagging24 at him like a hot wife. He heard the door opened and thought it was Whimple returned. It was Sir David, however, who stepped primly25 down and came up with a stony26 face to the poor man.
“Miss Royston is recovered?” said Tuke.
“The shock dwells with her. The wound is superficial. She is seated with Lord Dunlone for distraction27 of her thoughts.”
“Ah! women will dare bold remedies.”
“Not less than men, sir, when they suffer a midsummer madness.”
“Blythewood, let us, for Heaven’s sake, be quit of mysteries! You want to quarrel, as I understand, and I’m in no mood to baulk you. What is another sting in this general attack of hornets? Only give me the pretext28, man—as to which I swear I’m in a wood of bewilderment.”
“I’ll speak plain enough for an adder29 to hear. Didn’t you ask my favour to your suit with my sister?”
“Certainly you put the question to me.”
“Need I say more? Was this late insult a calculated one? I know nothing of the claims of the lady, or as to how far her services may warrant your condescension30; but——”
“You have gained your object. Not another word, man; unless you wish to fight over a handkerchief here and now. The matter can be arranged when our responsibilities to these innocent folks are happily decided31.”
The little baronet bowed.
“I regret you have forced me into this position.”
“Oh! my friend—spare yourself! I am bullied32 beyond any desire of explanation. I can slash33 and shout in this mêlée of misunderstanding, and I only dread34 to die because of the good, sweet soul that has fastened her life to mine. Wait; and for the sake of all give me your present services; and I will meet you with cannon35, if you like, when the pother is over.”
“Of course—our interest here is one. You have relieved my mind, by cock.”
“Have I? Then attack the bottle and be merry, and I’ll try to make you company.”
“No. I must go back to my sister. You want blood yourself, though. You’re peeked36 and haggard man; and no doubt late affairs have over-tried you.”
He went out. As the door closed upon him, a savage37 but irresistible38 sputter39 of laughter came from the lips of the other.
“Was ever solicitude40 more impudent41?” he murmured. “To press me to fatten42 on my own wine for the sacrifice!”
Once more he went to and fro, while dark gathered about him. Not long elapsed before he leapt towards the door with a positive curse to hear it turn on its hinges again.
He had no blame for it this time. He pulled her down into his arms, and pushed the door to, and fondled and caressed44 this poor partner of his disgrace. She was all frightened and trembling, it seemed; and she buried herself against him as a young rabbit snuggles into a corner.
“Where have you been this long hour, my Betty?” he said softly.
“I wanted to attend the lady of ‘Chatters’; but she was angry with me and has been saying cruel things.”
“Never mind them, my bird. People of her condition talk from the head; and that so often aches from confinement45 in close rooms that it makes them disagreeable.”
“It isn’t true what she said—that no foolish grace of yours can make an honest woman of me?”
“It isn’t true, Betty.”
“Why, I know my heart, and that the blame is mine. But you wouldn’t so punish me for a little offence. I would follow you through all the world, and take her gibes46 right meekly47 at your bidding. I am the better woman in my faith, and she’d give all her ladyship and her diamonds to know of you what I know.”
“If you are sure, Betty, I must believe—for you never speak an untruth.”
“When shall we be free? Oh, ’tis all the same as if you were a plough-boy.”
“Fortune favour us, my dear, and I will marry you in a month.”
She cried a little at that.
“Shall I ever do you credit and repay your goodness? I only want to belong to you and not make people stare or call me a knowing jade50 that has captured her gentleman. Let me live apart and not come to table again, and I’ll strive and strive to pick up the grand ways and read a book of fashion.”
“What! and cease to be yourself that I love? Girl we will eschew51 the conventions, and entertain no company but that of kennels52 and hutches and beehives. I would rather know the nightingales in my wood than fifty birds of paradise in turbans round my table.”
They started apart as a knock came to the door.
Bidden to enter, one of the grooms53, pale, eager, and excited, stepped hurriedly down into the room, his gun over his arm.
“Sir,” he said, “a man is come from the snow and is knocking at the door for admittance.”
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1
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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2
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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3
purgatory
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| n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的 | |
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4
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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5
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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6
punctured
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| v.在（某物）上穿孔( puncture的过去式和过去分词 )；刺穿（某物）；削弱（某人的傲气、信心等）；泄某人的气 | |
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7
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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8
nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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9
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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10
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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11
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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12
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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13
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
manliness
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| 刚毅 | |
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15
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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16
rascals
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| 流氓( rascal的名词复数 )； 无赖； （开玩笑说法）淘气的人（尤指小孩）； 恶作剧的人 | |
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17
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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18
atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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19
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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20
monotonous
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| adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的 | |
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21
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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22
insolence
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| n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度 | |
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23
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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24
nagging
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| adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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25
primly
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| adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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26
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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27
distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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28
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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29
adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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30
condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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31
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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32
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33
slash
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| vi.大幅度削减；vt.猛砍，尖锐抨击，大幅减少；n.猛砍，斜线，长切口，衣衩 | |
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34
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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35
cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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36
peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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37
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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38
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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39
sputter
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| n.喷溅声；v.喷溅 | |
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40
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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41
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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42
fatten
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| v.使肥，变肥 | |
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43
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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44
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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46
gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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47
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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48
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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49
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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50
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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51
eschew
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| v.避开，戒绝 | |
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52
kennels
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| n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场 | |
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53
grooms
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| n.新郎( groom的名词复数 )；马夫v.照料或梳洗（马等）( groom的第三人称单数 )；使做好准备；训练；（给动物）擦洗 | |
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